RICHARD FERGUSON reports that the Cheetahs are able to call on Johan Goosen and Coenie Oosthuizen against the Sharks on Saturday evening.

Goosen has been named to start the match while Oosthuizen will make his impact felt off the bench. Oosthuizen has been taking part in full contact training, but it is felt that they want to test him from the bench rather than risk him from the start.

Goosen took no part in preseason games, being rested to fully overcome the heel that has kept him out of action. He joins young Piet van Zyl in the halfbacks, who starts ahead of Sarel Pretorius. The rest of the backline is filled with pace and experience, the newly signed Johann Sadie joining Rob Ebersohn in the centres while Raymond Rhule and Willie le Roux are expected to cause havoc on the wings.

The forward pack is less impressive with Heinrich Brussouw still out of action and both first choice locks being injured for the early part of the season. Francois Uys and Lood de Jager start in the second row while Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne and Frans Viljoen form the loose trio.

Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius and Ryno Benjamin are expected to inject some pace later in the match coming off the bench.